Robert Mitchell Awalt (born April 9, 1964) is former American football tight end in the National Football League for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at San Diego State University. Early years Born in Landstuhl, Germany, he attended Valley High School, where he played as a quarterback. A coach failed him in physical education, preventing him from playing football one season. Awalt accepted a football scholarship from the University of Nevada and spent one season as a redshirt quarterback. As a sophomore, he transferred to Sacramento City College and was converted into a tight end. As a junior, he transferred to San Diego State University, where he posted 15 receptions for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. That season, he was affected with thoracic outlet syndrome, the neurovascular problem was corrected by removing a rib and rerouting an artery and nerve. In his last year, he led the team with 45 receptions (tenth in the conference) for 541 yards and 2 touchdowns. Professional career St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals Awalt was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round (62nd overall) of the 1987 NFL draft. Although he entered his rookie season as a backup, starter Jay Novacek suffered a fractured right elbow which allowed him to be promoted mid-way through the season. He would end up having a year to remember, registering 9 receptions in each of the first two games after replacing Novacek and tying a franchise single-game record held by Jackie Smith. He finished with 42 receptions which was good for second among NFC tight ends and fell one short of the franchise record for receptions in a season for a rookie (Gern Nagler). He also had 9 starts, 526 receiving yards (second on the team) and 6 receiving touchdowns receptions (tying the franchise record for rookies). He was voted rookie of the year by the UPI and Sporting News. In 1988, he passed Novacek on the depth chart and became the starter at tight end (15 starts). Although he tore two ligaments in his left ankle during October, he didn't miss any games. He finished third on the team with 39 receptions for 454 and 4 receiving touchdowns. In 1989, with Gary Hogeboom instead of Neil Lomax as the team's starting quarterback, his production fell to 33 receptions for 360 yards and no touchdowns. In 1990, Joe Bugel